Media Outreach: Sample Proclamation

World AIDS Day -- December 1, 2000

Whereas the global epidemic of HIV infection and AIDS requires a worldwide effort to increase communication, education and united action to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS; and,

Whereas the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) observes December 1 of each year as World AIDS Day, a day to expand and strengthen worldwide efforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS; and,

Whereas UNAIDS estimates that over 34 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV/AIDS, with young people under the age of 25 accounting for more than half of all new infections; and,

Whereas the American Association for World Health is encouraging a better understanding of the challenge of HIV/AIDS nationally as it recognizes that the number of people diagnosed with HIV and AIDS in the United States continues to increase, with 850,000 people in the U.S. now infected); and,

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Whereas World AIDS Day provides an opportunity to focus local, national and international attention on HIV infection and AIDS and to disseminate information on how to prevent the spread of HIV; and,

Whereas, because men represent the majority of people living with HIV/AIDS, the World AIDS Day 2000 theme, "AIDS: All Men -- Make a Difference!," urges all men to increase their awareness of the risk of HIV/AIDS for themselves, their partners and their children and to use their influence in their families, among their friends and in their communities to help stem the tide of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that I, _______________________________ , [title] do hereby declare that [your city] will observe World AIDS Day on December 1, 2000; I urge all citizens to take part in activities and observances designed to increase awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS as a global challenge, to take part in HIV/AIDS prevention activities and programs, and to join the global effort to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS.

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